Thai court to rule on 'Merchant of Death' extradition on
Aug. 11

19.05.2009

MOSCOW, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - A Thai court said on
Tuesday it will announce its ruling on the extradition of
suspected Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout on August 11.

The court convened on Tuesday for a final session on the
case of Bout, 42, who was arrested in Bangkok in March last
year during a sting operation led by U.S. agents. The United
States accuses Bout of conspiring with others to sell millions
of dollars' worth of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC).

"The extradition verdict will be announced on August 11,"
a source who was present at the court session told RIA Novosti
by phone.

The court will also deliver its verdict on Bout's lawsuit
over his "unlawful custody."

Bout has consistently denied the accusations against him,
and recently said his case was fabricated by the U.S.
government for political reasons.